By: Blonde Two
On Wednesday I went out with a group of young people on Dartmoor. Nothing new there you might say but this was a little bit different. I have recently approached Dartmoor National Park to see if they wanted another Volunteer Guide for their Educational Walks. They are a very friendly bunch and said yes despite the fact that my availability is somewhat limited. Wednesday’s outing was a chance for me to shadow a guide (the Boss Guide in fact) and start to get a feel for what they do.
This was less of a guided walk and more of a field trip which was great for me because I got to join in with the field work and learn loads about plant species, land use, tourism etc on Dartmoor. They (we) were studying (I think that is the right verb) transects (lines) across a path and monitoring the variety of plant species on and either side of the path. We did this by cunning use of a tape measure and a quadrat which is a square divided up into smaller squares (see picture below).
It was amazing to see how many different plant species we found on a path that I have walked many times. I was so bad at identifying them that I have determined to buy a wild flower book. Here are some examples but you will note that there is more than one species in each picture. See if you can match the names to the pictures (I am not going to try the Latin names this time for fear of embarrassment). Star Moss, Milkwort, Bedstraw, Tormentil.
How did you do? Most of us have quite a bit to learn and I am looking forward to learning more. For a bit of extra challenge, you could look up the medicinal properties of each one. They all have some useful claims to their names. If you feel like volunteering for Dartmoor National Park yourself, have a look here http://www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk/aboutus/vi-volunteers
I highly recommend:
Wild Flowers of Britain and Ireland, Marjorie Blamey, Richard Fitter and Alastair Fitter.
From the cover: “Marjorie Blamey in her eight sixth year has completed repainting of the entire British and Irish flora, an immense work of astonishing new freshness and beauty” and more accolades about the other two. The paintings are far superior to any photographs. This book is an out and out classic. Worth every penny of £16.99.
Brings back memories of geography coursework-always a joy!
Think I identified a couple of the plants but then I’m sure it was a certain blonde that introduced me to tomentil a few years ago while plodding about on Dartmoor!
Those Blondes, they get everywhere 🙂
never mind the taxonomy, feel the quality – those images – must be a first for a blog – which camera? or was it a phone?
Phone – I hanker after a good camera and the knowledge of how to use it. Sony Xperia T (12 megapixel camera).
In the field, and if you can get hold of it, because it has been out of print, Collins Pocket Guide “Wild Flowers Of Britain And Northern Europe”, Richard Fitter, Alastair Fitter and Marjorie Blamey. Excellent book for anyone, experienced or not.
Some more recent guides have been atrocious – I have seen errors in text, really bad pictures, and text that simply does not identify the plant, in some recent guides.
For a book to follow-up identification really accurately, try “The Wild Flowers of the British Isles,” illustrated by Ian Garrard and text by David Streeter. This is not a beginner’s field guide. It has superb illustrations and the text picks out the essential differences between similar plants – such as your Heath Bedstraw and Upright Hedge Bedstraw – some plant families are exceedingly confusing without a good reference book.
All you need then is a good magnifying glass and a large notice saying “Botanist at work”. That will save lovely young men the necessity of leaping up a mountain to find out that you are not having a heart attack – merely photographing a plant close-up. Though their gain is your loss. Be careful when photographing roadside plants – I have had cars pull up to render assistance, and that can be dangerous for them if there is following traffic – – – –
WILD FLOWERS RULE, OKAY?